Front axle unit for a toy vehicle

ABSTRACT

This front axle unit is suitable for a toy vehicle for operation on a racetrack, for example, comprising a chassis for accommodating the rear axle unit as well as the front axle unit having the front wheels. To optimize this front axle unit, an adjustment device for the wheel base of the front wheels is provided between the front wheels of the front axle unit of the chassis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the priority of German Application No. 102004011934.1, filed Mar. 11, 2004, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to a front axle unit for a toy vehicle, e.g., for operation on a racetrack, having a chassis which accommodates a rear axle unit as well as a front axle unit with front wheels.

DE 76 16 672 U1 shows a model vehicle having a chassis with a U-shaped cross section whose parallel legs run in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and support the rear front axles. The front axle has transverse control arms mounted on the legs and in turn connected to front wheels via wheel arms. The wheel base of the front wheels is invariable due to the given construction.

EP 1 275 424 A1 shows a comparable construction in the form of a remote-control, track-guided toy vehicle on a racetrack. The front axle has bearing sections for an axle shaft connected to the front wheels. The wheels are not spring mounted and their wheel base is fixed.

DE 37 22 618 C2 shows a toy vehicle having a vehicle body mounted on a chassis. The chassis has drive wheels and supporting wheels. Different selectable journals for these supporting wheels are provided for the supporting wheels on the two longitudinal sides of the chassis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a front axle unit for a toy vehicle characterized by simple and functional construction. However, the wheel mount for the front wheels of the front axle unit should also operate with a high efficiency.

This and other objects have been achieved by providing a wheel base adjustment device between the front wheels of the front axle unit.

Some of the main advantages achieved with the present invention include the fact that due to the adjustment device for the wheel base of the front wheels, the driving properties of the toy vehicle can be influenced in a controlled manner. The adjustment device is not only simple to operate but also forms an easily implemented construction with the fixation device and the relatively mobile arm sections situated one above the other.

The novel construction is further supported by the gear teeth on the arm sections and an adjustment housing. Finally, the longitudinal control arms on the arm sections for the guidance of the front wheels form an advantageous wheel mount, whereby the longitudinal control arms with the arm sections constitute a shock-mounted composite control arm axle which contributes to a good driving performance of the toy vehicle in a controlled manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of a chassis of a toy vehicle according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective, enlarged view of a detail of the front axle unit shown in FIG. 1 axle according to the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective, enlarged view of a detail from FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the front axle unit shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line V-V in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A toy vehicle 1, of which only a chassis 2 is shown, is provided with a guide groove 4 for operation on a racetrack 3 shown schematically in FIG. 1. A nose-like guide element 5 of a guide mechanism 6 engages in the guide groove 4 and is connected to the chassis 2. The chassis 2 is connected to a front axle unit 9 comprising front wheels 7, 8 and to a rear axle unit 12 having rear wheels 10, 11. The front axle unit 9 and the rear axle unit 12 are optionally configured as modules or integral structures of the chassis 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the front axle unit 9 is a module connected to a central frame 13 of the chassis 2.

An adjustment device 14 as seen in FIG. 2 is operative between the front wheels 7, 8 of the front axle unit 9, to permit variations in the wheel base (medium wheel base Swm, larger wheel base Swg and smaller wheel base Swk) to be able to connect bodies of different sizes, for example, to the chassis 2, i.e., to achieve desired dynamic driving effects. The adjustment device 14 is provided on a transverse member 15 having two arm sections 16, 17 situated one above the other (see also FIG. 4). The arm sections 16, 17 are configured to be relatively mobile (in directions RI and RII) in relation to one another, but they can also be locked in position by fixing device 18. The arm sections 16, 17 of the transverse member 15 run across or transversely to the longitudinal direction A-A of the vehicle and have approximately rectangular plates 19, 20 (FIG. 4) which are provided on longitudinal sides 21, 22 with first gear teeth Vze. The first gear teeth Vze cooperates with the second gear teeth Vzz of an adjustment housing 23 of the fixation device 18. The adjustment housing 23 has a U-shaped cross section 24 with legs 25, 26 which serve to accommodate the plates 19, 20 of the respective arm sections 16, 17. The second gear teeth Vzz are arranged on the inside of the legs 25, 26. A catch part 27, which holds the arm sections 16, 17 in position in the adjustment housing 23, sits on the adjustment housing 23 above the U-shaped cross section 24. The adjustment housing 23 is mounted on a front axle frame 28 of the front axle unit 9.

The arm sections 16, 17 are connected to respective longitudinal control arms 29, 30 aligned in the longitudinal direction A-A of the vehicle adjustment to the front wheels 7, 8. These longitudinal control arms 29, 30 run approximately horizontally in a basic design position and, together with the arm sections 16, 17, form a composite control arm axle 31. The arm sections 16, 17 are therefore configured to have spring elasticity, with the front wheels 7, 8 adapting to the properties of the road surface of the racetrack 3 via the longitudinal control arms 29, 30 in operation of the toy vehicle 1. On the free sides 32, 33, the longitudinal control arms 29, 30 have fork-like receptacles 34, 35 for bearing bushings 36, 37 which surround an axle 38 carrying the front wheels 7, 8. The longitudinal control arms 29, 30 run in front of the axle 38 as seen in the travel direction B.

The front axle frame 28 of the front axle unit 9 is brought up to the central frame 13 with longitudinal arms 39, 40 extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction A-A with vertical threaded bores 41 (FIG. 5) integrated where into. The longitudinal beams 39, 40 are mounted on a base frame 42 by screws 43 which are screwed into the threaded bores 41 from the under side 44 of the base frame 42. Finally, the longitudinal beams 39, 40 are connected to guide walls 45, 46 of the central frame 13.

The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. The front axle unit for a toy vehicle operable on a racetrack, comprising a chassis for accommodating a vehicle rear axle unit and a front axle unit having front wheels, and an adjustment device for a wheel base of the front wheels between the front wheels.
 12. A front axle unit of claim 11, wherein the adjustment device is operatively arranged on a transverse member having arm sections one above the other, so as to be mobile in relation to one another and lockable by a fixing device.
 13. The front axle unit of claim 12, wherein the arm sections have approximately rectangular plates provided with first gear teeth on longitudinal sides thereof, said first gear teeth cooperating with second gear teeth of an adjustment housing of the fixing device.
 14. The front axle unit of claim 13, wherein the adjustment housing has a U-shaped cross section for accommodating the plates; and a catch part is operatively arranged above the U-shaped cross section.
 15. The front axle unit of claim 13, wherein the adjustment housing is operatively mounted on a front axle frame of the front axle unit.
 16. The front axle unit of claim 12, wherein the arm sections are operatively connected to longitudinal control arms adjacent to the front wheels and configured to guide the front wheels.
 17. The front axle unit of claim 16, wherein the longitudinal control arms and the arm sections constitute a composite steering axle.
 18. The front axle unit of claim 16, wherein the longitudinal control arms (29 and 30) comprise fork-like receptacles for bearing bushes surrounding an axle shaft carrying the front wheels on free sides.
 19. The front axle unit of claim 15, wherein the front axle frame comprises a longitudinal member arranged proximate a central frame of the chassis and integrated into threaded bores, and the longitudinal beams are mounted with screws on a base frame of the central frame, with the screws being screwed into the threaded bores from an underside of the base frame.
 20. The front axle unit of claim 19, wherein the longitudinal beams are in contact with guide walls of the central frame. 